Used for insulating and protecting wiring, cable sleeving is a staple in any electrician’s toolkit. In our latest guide, we tell you everything you need to know.
What is cable sleeving used for?
The main use for cable sleeving is to protect electrical wiring in order to reduce the risk of electrical hazards but it is also used to organise wires and keep them tidy and orderly. Similar to heat shrink tubing, cable sleeving insulates wires against temperature and abrasion but varies from it in that it doesn’t require heat when being installed.
The benefits of using cable sleeving
- Improves cable management
- Protects against abrasion
- Offers chemical resistance
- Offers resistance to solvents
- UV resistant – therefore suitable for outdoor applications
- Lightweight
- Flexible – expandable cable sleeving
- Prolongs cable life
- Cables are less of an eyesore
- Protects against wear and tear
Different types of cable sleeving
There are several types of cable sleeving on the market including PVC cable sleeving and braided expandable cable sleeving. Spiral wrap and heat shrink tubing also serve a similar purpose to cable sleeving by offering a degree of insulation and protection.
Braided expandable cable sleeving
At cableties-online, our braided expandable cable sleeving is manufactured from an expandable polymer yarn known as PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Our expandable cable sleeving comes in black and is available in 10 sizes from 6mm to 50mm, each in 10m rolls.
Uses for braided expandable cable sleeving
The ideal general purpose sleeving to protect wires against abrasion chemical and heat, braided expandable cable sleeving can be used for cables, pipes, and hoses. With expansive properties that allows it to expand by up to 1.5 times its original size, a braided cable sleeve is also an excellent solution for covering odd-sized wires and because of this, is often used for domestic cable management.
Selecting the correct size of braided expandable cable sleeving
If you prefer a tighter, more snug fitting sleeve, select a sleeving size smaller than the diameter of your cables. For a more flexible fit, pick a size that is equal to or a bit larger than your cables. Remember that cable sleeving becomes shorter as it expands so take that into account when calculating amounts.
PVC cable sleeving
A popular choice for a variety of uses, PVC cable sleeving is made from reinforced thermoplastic which makes it resistant to kinking, and very flexible. At cableties-online, we supply blue, brown and green/yellow PVC cable sleeving in 2, 3, and 4mm sizes on 100m rolls. Our black PVC cable sleeving comes in 100m rolls and is available in up to 10 different sizes.
Uses for PVC cable sleeving
Its choice of colours makes PVC cable sleeving ideal for cable identification and in addition to this, it is used in a wide variety of industries, including chemical and pharmaceutical, and it is also used to secure wiring in motor engines.
Alternatives to cable sleeving
Spiral wrap – a spiral wrap is a type of cable sleeving that can be wrapped around cables to protect them and keep them neat. Often used in domestic cable management situations such as the Spaghetti Junction of cabling that can be found with home entertainment systems and work stations, our spiral wrap is available in two colours and 5 sizes to accommodate cable up to 130mm in diameter.
Heat shrink tubing – used to secure, insulate and protect against abrasion, heat shrink tubing requires the application of heat at installation. To find out more, read our complete guide to heat shrink tubing.
Flexible conduit – manufactured from polypropylene and available as split and non-split, flexible conduit is lightweight and pliable and offers effective resistance to chemicals, solvents and cracking. With a high melting point, our flexible conduit is ideal for harsh conditions.
To find out more about our extensive range of electrical supplies, please email us at sales@cableties-online.co.uk or call our friendly team on 01623 412160.
